Victor Cohen
“…votes from our community can make a significant difference in shaping the future of Jewish funding allocations.”
Victor Cohen
In an era where Jewish identity is being challenged on multiple fronts, one organization stands at the forefront of the battle to protect our heritage, values, and future. Shas Olami is not just another initiative – it is a movement, a mission, and a call to action. If we fail to act, the sanctity of our traditions and the integrity of our Torah institutions hang in the balance. But if we unite, we have the power to preserve the rich legacy of Sephardic Jewry for generations to come.
You may have recently heard about Shas Olami through group chats, text messages, or from a rabbi, friend, or family member. But what exactly is this organization, and why is it so important?
A Voice on the Global Stage
Shas Olami is a global Sephardic Orthodox movement established in 2010 at the behest of Hacham Ovadia Yosef, zt”l. Its mission is to preserve, protect, and strengthen Sephardic culture worldwide by instilling pride in our heritage, imparting authentic Torah values, and reinforcing the bond with Eretz Yisrael. Today, the movement is guided by Hacham Ovadia’s son, Hacham Yitzhak Yosef, shlit”a.
Shas Olami pursues two primary objectives:
- Preventing financial allocations to Reform-led causes that challenge traditional Jewish values.
- Increasing financial support for Sephardic initiatives worldwide and within our community institutions.
As the organization states:
By increasing our Orthodox representation, we can influence decisions that protect the sanctity of our Jewish homeland, adhere to Torah values, and benefit our communities.
Shas Olami provides Sephardic Jewry with a voice on the global stage. This is crucial now more than ever, given the attacks on our homeland and the rise of anti-Semitism worldwide. It is essential that we consolidate our influence and direct it toward protecting our interests and promoting Sephardic values in Eretz Yisrael.
To gain deeper insight into the organization’s mission and impact, I had the opportunity to interview Yehuda Nakkach, a leader within Shas Olami. We discussed the movement’s role, whom it represents, what it has accomplished, and why voting has never been more important.
Shas Olami was formed in 2010 under the guidance of Hacham Ovadia Yosef, zt”l, as a delegation within the World Zionist Organization (WZO) – an international body representing Jews worldwide. The WZO distributes hundreds of millions of dollars annually to Jewish organizations, and the distribution of these funds is determined by elections held every five years.
Today, under the leadership of Hacham Ovadia’s son, Hacham Yitzhak Yosef, Shas Olami has established strong connections within our community. It is supported by numerous community rabbis and remains dedicated to ensuring the continued growth and success of Sephardic Jewry.
The Current State of the WZO and the Need for Change
The WZO plays a crucial role in allocating resources to Jewish organizations worldwide. Unfortunately, past elections have resulted in a disproportionate share of funding being directed toward Reform-affiliated causes, including protests that create unrest in Israel and organizations such as Women of the Wall, which undermine Jewish unity and traditional religious values.
As the Sephardic Orthodox representative within the WZO, Shas Olami works to redirect these funds toward Torah-centered causes that align with Sephardic and Orthodox Jewish values. However, the Reform movement remains a formidable political force.
In the most recent WZO election in 2020, Reform-affiliated organizations secured 39 seats with 31,000 votes. The next highest delegation trailed by 10,000 votes. Meanwhile, Shas Olami secured only two seats with just over 2,000 votes, ranking eighth overall.
Since the WZO operates on a fixed budget, funds directed toward Reform causes come at the expense of Orthodox and Sephardic initiatives. Reform delegations hold numerous key leadership positions within the WZO’s various departments, allowing them to steer funding toward causes that often contradict traditional Jewish values.
If Shas Olami strengthens its representation, it can collaborate with other religious voting blocs to counter this imbalance and redirect funds toward initiatives that support Torah observance and Sephardic heritage.
A Global Movement with a Lasting Impact
Despite its limited representation, Shas Olami is already making an impact. A stronger Shas Olami benefits not just our local community but also Sephardic Jews worldwide, including Bukharian, Persian, and other Sephardic groups across the United States and beyond.
Shas Olami operates in multiple countries, including France, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, Spain, Belgium, Mexico, and Chile, serving as a platform for Sephardic communities to voice their perspectives and shape the future of Jewish education and communal life on a global scale.
In a significant milestone, Shas Olami recently gained access to a WZO department for the first time. In 2020, its representatives were appointed to the Department for Fundraising and Strengthening Community Relations. In the capacity of this position, they have organized numerous events, including Selihot gatherings and holiday-related activities. This past Purim, for example, they facilitated the distribution of Megillot. Even with its current limited power, Shas Olami is actively working to promote Sephardic interests both locally and globally.
As Yehuda Nakkach explained, Shas Olami is committed to preventing funds from being allocated to Reform-affiliated organizations that undermine Jewish tradition, and to redirecting those funds towardstrengthening of Torah values, supporting Sephardic education, and protecting the sanctity of the Land of Israel.
A Call to Action
The key to making this happen is simple: VOTE.
By voting for Shas Olami, we increase its representation within the WZO. A single delegation may have limited influence on its own, but when combined with other religious voting blocs, Shas Olami can help shift control of key WZO departments. Typically, Shas Olami partners with other religiously aligned groups, such as the Likud delegation and Eretz HaKodesh, to strengthen its impact.
As Mr. Nakkach highlighted, votes from “contentious” regions – such as the United States – carry increased strategic weight. This means that votes from our community can make a significant difference in shaping the future of Jewish funding allocations.
Voting requires minimal effort but yields significant long-term benefits for the Sephardic community. You can encourage others – family, friends, and colleagues – to vote, as well.
Our community has an opportunity to make a meaningful impact. If we rally behind Shas Olami and increase its voting share, we can not only curtail the influence of Reform movements but also advance Torah and Sephardic-centered causes with unprecedented strength.
To learn more about Shas Olami’s mission, long-term objectives, and commitment to strengthening Sephardic Jewry, visit shasolami.org.Vote today at azm.org/elections/ Slate # 1 and play your part in preserving Sephardic Jewry worldwide!